Joseph's Journey, Part 2

Joseph's journey, part 2 (Spark 57-65)

Last week, we met Joseph who had some pretty strange dreams..  Things weren’t going very well for him!  His brothers sold him into slavery and he left EVERYTHING he’d ever known—his 11 brothers, his parents, his country, and was taken off to Egypt.  Worse than that, when he got there, he was thrown in jail—and was there for over two years!  But, you see, the thing that got him in trouble—those dreams?  They were a special gift—a super power of sorts, from GOD!  And God not only gave him those dreams, but the power to tell other people what their strange dreams meant.

So, two years have passed since he told those two servants of Pharaoh what their dreams meant, when someone shows up at his jail cell door!  He had been summoned—the Pharaoh himself needed Joseph’s help!

The pharaoh tells Joseph his dream:

PHARAOH:“First, I dreamed that I was standing by the Nile River, and out came seven healthy FAT cows.  They were eating grass.  And then seven UGLY, sick, skinny cows showed up and ATE the fat cows!  Then, in another dream, seven, thick, juicy and healthy ears of corn grew on a corn stalk.  Then seven, thin, rotten, unhealthy ears of corn grew and ate the healthy ones. What does it all mean?”

God helped Joseph understand, and Joseph told the Pharaoh what the dreams meant: 

JOSEPH: “They mean t that for seven years, Egypt will have plenty of food—lots and lots of it! Then, there will be seven BAD years—there will not be enough food, and people will go hungry!”

Pharaoh knew this meant he had to do something! He put Joseph in charge—for seven years, Joseph helped collect and store the extra food, getting ready for the years when there wouldn’t be enough.  In the other countries near Egypt, there wasn’t enough food—people were starting to go HUNGRY, but Egypt had plenty!  God had helped Joseph understand his message and know what needed to be done.  With God’s help and love, Joseph helped Egypt—and people from other countries.

Some of those people who started to go hungry were Joseph’s brothers!  They journeyed to Egypt to find food for their family and to plead with the leaders of Egypt to help them.  They had no idea Joseph was in charge. And when they saw him, they didn't know who he was.  Joseph recognized them, though.  At first, he kept it a secret—but then, he grew too excited!  He finally understood why God had sent him on this long and difficult journey. He told them:

“I am your brother Joseph, who you sold to the Egyptian traders.  Don't feel bad anymore because God sent me ahead of you so that I could save people, including you.  This famine—time with bad crops and hungry people—is going to last for many years, so hurry back to our father and tell him I am safe.  I want you to bring your families and your children and your sheep and goats and all your belongings and live near me!  I will help take care of you.”

What do you think Joseph’s brothers did?  They hugged each other and cried—they were so happy to be reunited with Joseph, and so excited for the journey Joseph’s life had taken!  They talked and talked and talked.  Even the Pharaoh heard about Joseph’s family and their journey.  He told Joseph, “Tell them to go get EVERYONE in your family and I’ll give them the best land in Egypt to call their own.” 

Joseph gave his brothers wagons, and loaded them with food, supplies, and new clothes.  They quickly went back to their father and told him the good news about Joseph and what waited for them in Egypt!

His father was so excited—it was everything he wanted!  He would see his son again, and they would all be together in Egypt!  They loaded the families and all of their goats and sheep and all of their belongings and started back to Joseph!

BUT….on the way, the brothers started to worry!  What if this was a trick?  What if Joseph was still mad at them for selling him and oh!  They’d been so TERRIBLE to him!  What if he was going to take all they had? 

So they carefully went to Joseph—“Here we are (sigh).  We don't deserve to be your brothers anymore.  Take us as your slaves.”

What did Joseph do? He said to them “Don't be silly!  I am your brother, no matter what! Even though you planned something bad to happen to me, God turned it into something good!”  And the family celebrated being together, and Joseph being able to take care of Egypt—him and his silly dreams!

What did you learn?

Even things others mean for bad, God can turn into good.

Joseph forgave his brothers (WOW)—is that an easy thing to do?  NO!  sometimes brothers and sisters can be difficult, but God helps us love them